NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction that allows religious congregations in New York City to continue holding Sunday worship services in public schools.
Pastor Mark Gregory of Cross Way Church and Christian Center in the Bronx says his congregation burst into applause when he announced the news at Sunday's service.
City lawyers had argued that worship services in public schools amounted to an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
But federal Judge Loretta Preska ruled Friday that it's the city's worship ban that was unconstitutional because it violated the First Amendment's guarantee of free exercise of religion. She also ruled the city violated the establishment clause by trying to define "worship."
Alliance Defense Fund attorney Jordan Lorence, who represented the churches, said the permanent injunction allows them to continue meeting "in empty school buildings on weekends on the same terms as other groups."
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213-a-07-(The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, in AP interview)-"expressing their joy"-The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, says he told his congregation about the federal judge's decision during Sunday's service. (1 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *213 (07/01/12)>> 00:07 "expressing their joy"
214-a-05-(The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, in AP interview)-"just thanking God"-The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, says his congregation is elated that the city's ban on worship in public schools has been overturned by a federal judge. (1 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *214 (07/01/12)>> 00:05 "just thanking God"
215-a-08-(The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, in AP interview)-"this and thankful"-The Reverend Mark Gregory, pastor of Cross Way Church and Christian Center, says the federal judge's ruling affects dozens of churches that meet in public schools. (1 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *215 (07/01/12)>> 00:08 "this and thankful"
